Majority of the aristocratic officers left France during Revolution
and the quality of French cavalry had fallen badly.
It was Napoleon who made it as an effective force which
would have parity with any enemy. At Borodino the French cavalry
even captured a redoubt, a feat never repeated by any other cavalry.
The French cavalry became most renowned for their actions in large masses.
- - - Organization. > - - - Quality. > - - - Horses. > - - - Marshal Murat. > 2. Horse Carabiniers (Carabiniers-aCheval). 3. Cuirassiers (Cuirasiers). 4. Dragoons (Dragons). 5. Lancers (Lanciers). 6. Horse Chasseurs (Chasseurs-a-Cheval) 7. Hussars (Hussards) 8. The Best Regiments 9. Sources and Links. . .
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 Picture: lieutenant of 8th Cuirassier Regiment in parade uniform. Musée de l'Armée (ext.link)
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French Cavalry Under Napoleon.
"Cavalry is useful before, during and after the battle," wrote Napoleon, and he stressed the need for audacity in its employment
and careful training to achieve true discipline.
He was also insistent that careful categorization according to role was of great importance...
It was some time before the French cavalry reached its full potential, as it had suffered the loss of many officers during the Revolutionary period, but by 1807 it was reaching its prime. The great charges led by Murat at Eylau and
Grouchy at Friedland played vital parts in the outcome of these battles."
(Chandler - "Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars" pp 85-86)
"Under Napoleon, the French cavalry were, in contrast to the infantry, far
more renowned for their action in masses than for their duty as light troops.
They were deemed irresistible, and even Napier admits their superiority over the English
cavalry of that day. Wellington, to a certain degree, did the same. And strange to say,
this irresistible cavalry consisted of such inferior horsemen ... no soldiers are so careless
of their horses as the French."
("The Armies of Europe" in Putnam's Monthly, No. XXXII, published in 1855)
Theoretical strength of regiment was between 800 and 1.200 men.
During campaign the numbers decreased. For example during crossing of the Rhine River (September 1805) eight cuirassier regiments had 484 men per regiment on average. In December at Austerlitz it decreased to 317 men per regiment. (It gives 35 % losses within 4 months. For comparison losses in twenty five regiments of dragoons were 40 % {counted without the foot dragoons}, in seven regiments of hussars 25 % and in nine chasseurs were approx. 32 %.)
Most often regiment had 3 or 4 squadrons. For example at Austerlitz 44 cavalry regiments had 153 squadrons, on average 3.5 squadron per regiment. During the 1812-1813 campaigns there were several regiments 6 or 8 squadrons each. Below is structure of regiment four-squadron strong.
Originally there were 4 Eagles per cavalry regiment of 4 squadrons. In 1806 Napoleon
ordered that regiments of chasseurs and hussars deposit all Eagles, dragoons deposit 3
and keep only one in the field and the cuirassiers retain 3 Eagles per regiment. Some
regiments of hussars and chasseurs refused to give up their Eagles and in 1809 (and even
in 1812 and 1813) they carried 1 in the field. In 1812 generally no squadron fanions were
carried in the field, instead were used the small company fanions.
Napoleon said that "squadron will be to the cavalry what the battalion is for infantry."
The squadron always consisted of 2 companies, each commanded by a captain.
The senior of the captains commanded the squadron.
The cavalry strength in battle was expressed in the number of squadrons instead of regiments
or divisions.
The strength of cavalry squadron in the field varied between 85 and 250 men.
In the begiining of campaign the squadrons were stronger.
Each squadron had 2 companies. In 1805-1807 the wartime company had:
Organization of company according to Decree of March 27th 1815:
The farriers and fouriers would usually have been kept in the rear.
The 1st Company in every regiment (except cuirassiers and carabiniers) was named Elite Company. Only brave, strong and seasoned men were accepted, and they rode on black horses.
Sometimes the elite company was detached from regiment and served as an escort to a marshal. If there was several regiments the marshal took only 15 men from every elite company. Sometimes this was not enough and instead the elite companies were used entire regiments of cavalry. For example in 1812 marshal Berthier and his headquarters were guarded by 28th Chasseur Regiment and Saxon light cavalry.
The colonels of cuirassier regiments decided to form elite companies but were reminded that they are elite. They received higher pay, were stronger and taller than other troopers, wore red plumes and epaulettes and had flaming grenade insygnia on coat-tails and saddlecloth.
Sappers were part of the Elite Company. They opened roads, improved campsites and guarded the regimental Eagle. Only hussar and dragoon regiments had sappers (1 sergeant, 1 corporal and 8 privates).
In 1806 and 1807 "The cavalry was excellent and well mounted, though, in the latter respect,
they fell short of many Russian cavalry regiments."
(Petre - "Napoleon's Campaign in Poland, 1806-1807" pp 27-28)
Much of the revolutionary ardour that had fired the French troops of the 1790s and early 1800s
had been quenched by 1808. Napoleon himself sensed a lack of enthusiiasm for the forthcoming
campaigns.
In 1808-09, for the new war with Austria tens of thousands of new recruits joined the field
armies. The influx of conscprits diluted the old ideals of austerity, self-respect and duty.
After 1809 drunkenness and indiscipline increased, especially in the cavalry.
They were hastily trained. "After 1808 fewer French soldiers received extensive
training." (Elting - "Swords Around a Throne" p 534)
Sergeant-Major Thirion described the cuirassiers of 1812 participating in the Invasion of
Russia: "Never had more beautiful cavalry been seen ! Never had the regiments (of cuirassiers) reached such high
effectives." One of the conscripts wrote: "Oh Father !, this is some army ! Our old soldiers say they never saw anything like it."
However the cavalry regiments left on the secondary theaters of war (Italy, Spain, and elsewhere) were of lower quality.
Murat's Reserve Cavalry numbered 42,000 at Niemen and 18,000 at Smolensk. Before the army reached Moscow it
lost half of its strength. After Napoleon left Moscow the situation changed from bad to worse. The debris of the Grand
Army which in June 1812 had crossed the Niemen River was now chased back by Cossacks and armed peasants.
The Russians captured thousands of POWs.
The cavalry was so reduced that it became necessary to form all the officers who were still
mounted into four companies of 150 men each. Generals acted as captains; and colonels
as corporals. This Sacred Squadron, commanded by General Grouchy, and under the orders
of the King of Naples, kept the closest watch over the Emperor.
The rebuilding of the cavalry in 1813 was more dificult than infantry and artilery.
Shortages of trained cavalrymen, officers, NCOs and war horses were critical.
Promotions were rapidly handed out and temporary squadrons were formed.
In the beginning of April 1813 General Bourcier gathered 10.000 battle-hardened veterans
from 60 regiments spread across the countryside. The cavalry centers were in the cities of
Magdeburg and Metz. Horses were coming from northern Germany.
During Armistice was more time to train the young troops and many regiments showed
improvements in their maneuvers. But they never reached the level of pre-1812.
The situation in French cavalry in 1814 was very difficult. Every soldier who could stick on the back of a horse was mounted -
some on nags resembling the "four horses of the Apocalypse."
In 1815 (Waterloo Campaign) the French cavalry was impoverished and had considerably scaled
back the strength of cavalry regiments. By contrast England had always good horses and the
financial means to obtain more of them wherever they might be found. The Russians too had no problems
with horses.
The highest quality horses for light cavalry came from Hungary, southern Russia and Poland.
These countries dominated light horse breeding in Europe in XVIII_XIX Century.
For light cavalry Napoleon purchased horses from almost every province of France but
especially from Ardennes, Taubes and Auvergne. In 1806 many Prussian (Mecklenburgian),
Syrian and Turkish horses were purchased.
After victorious war in 1806 Napoleon dismounted the Prussian cavalry, and in 1805 and 1809 dismounted the Austrian cavalry. Thousands of horses were also taken from Saxony, Hannover and Spain. Many horses were purchased or simply taken from Polish farms.
After the disaster in Russia in 1812, several Polish cavalry regiments were still in
good shape. Especially the Lithuanian uhlans. Napoleon stripped these regiments of all
their horses in an effort to remount the cavalry of Imperial Guard.
(Nafziger - "Lutzen and Bautzen" p 9)
John Elting wrote about the horsecare in French cavalry: "Too many French were careless
horsemasters, turning their animals loose at night into fields of green grain or clover
without supervision. Thousands overate and died of the colic. Germans and Poles were more
careful."
According to order issued on October 28th 1802 the horses for French cuirassiers and dragoons were to be between 15 1/4 and 15 1/2 hands tall (154.3m-158.3 m).
After war in 1805 the minimum height for horses were relaxed, even for the cuirassiers. But when Prussian and Austrian horses were captured and new territories annexed the requirements were heightened. In 1812 the height of horses was as follow:
During every campaign there was always a shortage of good cavalry horses. In 1805 between Ulm and Austerlitz
the French lacked so many horses that the Emperor sent officers to buy horses "of whatever breed"
and color for the cavalrymen.
During peacetime the regiments of light and line cavalry had color of horses according to squadron :
From his first thundering charges on the plains of Italy to his last grand charge at Leipzig,
no commander more epitomized the dash and ambition of the French cavalry than Murat.
He was the embodiement of the cavalryman. Murat habitually led in the very forefront of the charge,
and his presence elicited courage and devotion from his troops. His flamboyant and colorful
outfit, his bravery, and his fun-loving nature was all that many daring European cavalry leaders aspired to be.
His love of war and glory made him the very incarnation of cavalryman.
In 1807 at Heilsberg Murat charged with a headlong rashness but his horse was struck by canister.
Horse and rider were knocked over together like a stand of muskets. Murat - now without one
boot, it was stuck in the strirup of killed horse - quickly mounted another horse.
In 1815 Murat's Neapolitan troops were defeated by the Austrians. He eventually arranged a surrender and fled to France.
Napoleon was furious and refused to see Murat. The Emperor rejected his offer to command
the French cavalry during the Waterloo Campaign.
consisted of such inferior horsemen ... "
- "The Armies of Europe"
Putnam's Monthly, No. XXXII
"Cavalry is useful before,
during and after the battle,"
- Emperor Napoleon
The force of impact generated by cavalry, provided it was engaged at the proper moment, was out of all
proportion to its numbers. Had this not been the case, after all, governments would not have spent so much money on
maintaining mounted troops, which represented a heavy cost to the national treasury.
A single cavalry regiment consumed 4 metric tons of fodder every day.
Albert-Jean-Michel de Rocca writes: "The various troops that composed our army, especially the cavalry and infantry, differed extremely in manners and habits. The infantrymen, having only to think of themselves and their muskets, were selfish, great talkers, and great sleepers.
... They were apt to dispute with their officers, and sometimes they were even insolent to
them ... They forgot all their hardships the moment they heard the sound of the enemy's first gun.
The hussars and chasseurs were generally accused of being plunderers and prodigal, loving drink and fancying every thing fair while in presence of the enemy.
Accustomed, one may almost say, to sleep with an open eye, to have an ear always awake to the
sound of the trumpet, to reconnoitre far in advance during a march, to trace the ambuscades of the enemy
... they could not fail to have acquired superior intelligence and habits of independence.
Nevertheless, they were always silent and submissive in presence of their officers, for fear of being dismounted.
Forever smoking, to pass away his life, the light cavalryman, under his large cloak, braved in every country the rigour of the seasons. The rider and his horse, accustomed to live together, contracted a character of
resemblance."
In 1809 at Wagram the French had 209 squadrons with an average of 139 men per squadron.
On August 15th 1813, the French army stationed in
Germany had the following numbers of cavalrymen:
12.818 chasseurs were in 67 squadrons (9.1 officers and 182 other ranks in squadron)
7.203 hussars in 38 squadrons (8.5 officer and 181 other ranks in squadron)
3.546 lancers in 20 squadrons (10.75 officer and 166 other ranks in squadron)
7.019 dragoons in 45 squadrons (8.33 officer and 148 other ranks in squadron)
5.789 cuirassiers in 40 squadrons (8.6 officer and 136 other ranks in squadron)
Cuirassiers:
. . . . . . . . . 3 Officers: Captain and 2 Lieutenants (Captain was allowed 3 horses, lieutenant 2 mounts)
. . . . . . . . . 1 Marechal-des-logis Chef (Sergeant-major)
. . . . . . . . . 2 Marechal des logis (Sergeants)
. . . . . . . . . 1 Fourrier
. . . . . . . . . 4 Brigadiers (Corporals)
. . . . . . . . . Trumpeter
. . . . . . . . . 74 privates
Dragoons:
. . . . . . . . . 3 Officers: Captain and 2 Lieutenants
. . . . . . . . . 1 Marechal-des-logis Chef (Sergeant-major)
. . . . . . . . . 4 Marechal des logis (Sergeants)
. . . . . . . . . 1 Fourrier
. . . . . . . . . 8 Brigadiers (Corporals)
. . . . . . . . . 2 Trumpeters and a Drummer
. . . . . . . . . 72 Privates and 46 foot dragoons
. . . . . . . . . 4 Officers: Captain, Lieutenant, 2 Sous-lieutenants
. . . . . . . . . 1 Marechal-des-logis Chef (Sergeant-major)
. . . . . . . . . 4 Marechal des logis (Sergeants)
. . . . . . . . . 1 Fourrier
. . . . . . . . . 8 Brigadiers (Corporals)
. . . . . . . . . 2 Trumpeters
. . . . . . . . . 58 dragoons, chasseurs, lancers or hussars, or 42 cuirassiers
In the cavalry served more nobles than in any other branch of the army.
Majority of the aristocratic officers left France during Revolution and
the overall quality of French cavalry had fallen badly.
It was Napoleon who made it as an effective force which would have
parity with any enemy.
- General Jomini; "When I speak of excellent French cavalry, I refer to its
impetous bravery, and not to its perfection; for it does not compare with the Russian or German cavalry
either in horsemanship, organization, or in care of the animals."
General Welligton - "I considered our (British) cavalry so inferior to the French from the want of order, that although I considered
one squadron a match for two French, I didn't like to see four British opposed to four French:
and as the numbers increased and order, of course, became more necessary I was the more unwilling
to risk our men without having a superiority in numbers."
In 1812 at Maguilla (Maquilla) took place combat between the French and British cavalry. General Hill detached Penne
Villemur's cavalry on the right flank, and General Slade with the [British] 3rd Dragoon Guards and
the Royals on the left flank. French General Lallemand came forward with only two dragoon
regiments, whereupon Hill, hoping to cut this small force off, placed Slade's British cavalry
in a wood with directions to await further orders. Slade forgot his orders and drove the
French dragoons beyond the defile of Maquilla. General Slade rode in the foremost ranks
and the supports joined tumultuously in the pursuit. But in the plain beyond stood calm
Lallemand with small reserve.
He immediately broke the mass of British cavalry, killed and wounded 48 and "pursued the rest for 6 miles, recovered all his
own prisoners, and took more than a hundred, inluding two officers, from his adversary"
(Napier - "History of the War in the Peninsula 1807-1814" Vol III, p 444)
- Archduke Charles comander-in-chief of the Austrian army - "The French cavalry was, on the
whole, poorly mounted and poorly equipped; its men were awkward horsemen.
Yet it outclassed its opponents simply because, when order rang out and trumpets clarioned
'Charge !' it put in its spurs and charged all out, charged home !"
- Officer Chlapowski: "The enemy [Hungarian hussars] had charged us 3 or 4 times during this engagement. Some of them would break into our ranks, many passed right through and circled
back to regain their lines, and after charge they ended in complete disorganization.
The French, on the other hand, although they also lost formation after a charge, kept together far more and every time were
quicker to regain order. ... although the Hungarians drove home their attacks with determination, they were
harder to reform into some sort of order. The French, on the other hand, knew that their own horses lacked
the Austrians' speed and endurance, and would launch their attacks from closer range and so retained formation right to the end of the charge,
and regained it more quickly afterwards."
Before the campaigns in 1805 and in 1812 the cavalrymen were intensively trained, supplied with
splendid uniforms and horses and armed to teeth. They were enthusiastic and ready to fight.
The officers and NCOs were battle hardened veterans.
In 1805 the French had established a morale ascendancy over their opponents.
At Borodino the French cavalry captured a redoubt, a feat never
repeated by any other cavalry. Colonel Griois watched the cavalry attack: "It would be difficult to convey our feelings as
watched this brilliant feat of arms, perhaps without equal in the military annals of nations
... cavalry which we saw leaping over ditches and scrambling up ramparts under a hail of
canister shot, and a roar of joy resounded on all sides as they became masters of the redoubt."
Meerheimb wrote: "Inside the redoubt, horsemen and foot soldiers, gripped by a frenzy of
slaughter, were butchering each other without any semblance of order..."
Many regiments ceased to exist. For example the 5th Regiment of Cuirassiers had 958 men present for duty on June 15th,
1812. On Feb 1st 1813 had only 19 ! The French cavalry never recovered from the massive loss of horses.
Nine out of ten cavalrymen who survived walked much of the way home; most of those who rode did so on tiny, but tough,
Russian and Polish ponies, their boots scuffing the ground. Napoleon wrote: "I have no army any more! For many days
I have been marching in the midst of a mob of disbanded, disorganized men, who wander all over the countryside in search
of food." It is estimated that 175.000 excellent horses of cavalry and artillery
were lost in Russia !
The Russians reported burning the corpses of 123,382 horses as they cleaned up their countryside of the debris of war.
So heavy were the horse losses that one of Napoleon's most serious handicaps in the 1813 campaign was his inability
to reconstitute his once-powerful cavalry.
"Perhaps the worst part of the [French] army of 1813 was its cavalry.
In the first part of the war, up to Lutzen, it numbered by 15,000 mostly old soldiers ...
It was opposed to a far more numerous cavalry of generally excellent quality, against which
it was almost impotent. Later, it was greatly increased in numbers, but the recruits were
of very inferior quality and training. On the other hand, the [French] artillery was very good and numerous."
(Petre - "Napoleon at War" p 110)
There were too many young soldiers, hastily trained, and hardly 10-20 % of the officers were classed as capable.
Retired officers had been recalled, many old NCOs had been promoted lieutenants.
Nearly 80 % of the new cavalrymen had never ridden a horse. In Hamburg the young cuirassiers
having been ordered to leave on reconnaissance and after few minutes all were dismounted, with their horses
running free in the streets.
The Germans laughed openly.
The northern part of France called Normandy was one of the world biggest horse-breeding areas (Studs of Le Pin and St. Lo). Napoleon valued these mounts highly and during reviews often asked colonels how many horses from Normandy they have in their regiments. In 1810 the horse grenadiers of the Guard rode on black horses, 14 1/2 - 15 hands tall, between 4 and 4 1/2 years old and bought in the city of Caen (Normandy) for 680 francs apiece.
The German horse breeders from Hananover and Holstein and traders made fortunes as Napoleon purchased huge amounts of horses for his heavy cavalry. The Prussian large mounts were also accepted.
Britten-Austin described the situation in 1812: "Without a drop of water to drink and only an occassional nibble
of wayside grasses, they arrive at the first bivouc utterly spent, collapse, and have to be shot by their
riders, who, adding horsemeat to a soup of uncut rye, promptly go down with diarrhea, an affliction not conducive to
brilliant exploits on horseback." (Britten-Austin - "1812 The March on Moscow" p 125)
Graf Henkel von Donnersmark writes after the battle of Leipzig: "The captured [French] horse was big but in poor
condition, so I exchanged it with a Russian officer for a strong Cossack horse; now I
owned 3 such Don mounts. They are excellent for use on campaigns where there are lots of hardships, but they do have some beauty defects."
- cuirassiers and carabiniers - . . . . 155 cm - 160 cm
- dragoons and artillery - . . . . . . . . .153 cm - 155 cm
- chasseurs and hussars - . . . . . . . . 149 cm - 153 cm
- lighthorse-lancers - . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 cm - 150 cm
- Polish uhlans - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142 cm - 153 cm
- Polish Krakusi - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 cm - 142 cm (nicknamed by Napoleon "my Pygmy Cavalry")
- The Arabian mounts were not as fast as European warmbloods but they were sure-footed.
They were famous for elegance, toughness and almost legendary endurance. Arabian horses were
very popular among officers and generals. Napoleon usually rode on Arabian:
the snow-white "Euphrates" at Wagram, the dapple-gray "Taurus" in Russia (1812), at Leipzig
(1813) and in France (1814), and "Marengo" at Waterloo.
Napoleon encouraged the use of Arabians at the French national studs. Almost all European countries mixed their native mounts (coldbloods) with Arabians and getting new breeds (warmbloods). In 1800s the biggest studs of Arabians were founded in Hungary and Poland.
- The Andalusian horse was called "the royal horse of Europe". Many war-leaders rode on the Spanish horses. This is friendly, docile, strongly build, brave (used for bull fighting) and of catlike agility.
- The French horse Comtois of Burgundy was used by the army of King Louis XIV and by Napoleon. Characteristics: hardiness, endurance, good nature and easy to train.
- The French horse Auxois of Burgundy was a powerful one. This mount was a quiet and good natured, used also by artillery.
- The French horse Ardennais was a very popular horse in French cavalry.
- The French horse Percheron was a powerful mount used by heavy cavalry.
By XVII Century it attained wide spread popularity. In early XIX Century the French
goverment established a stud at le Pin for the development of army mounts. The horse was
docile, energetic and of big size.
- The French horse Boulonnais of Flanders enjoyed a great popularity in every European heavy cavalry and among horse dealers. Napoleon purchased thousands of these horses for his cuirassiers.
- The German horse of Frederiksborg enjoyed numerous exports which seriously depleted the stock.
- The Hannoverian horse was used by light artillery and heavy and line cavalry. It was probably the most successful warmblood in Europe. The Hannoverian breeding industry has existed for 400 years. Even today this horse excel in equestrian disciplines of jumping and driving.
- The Holsteiner horse was developed in northern Germany. Their reputation was such that only in 1797 approx. 100.000 horses were exported ! This horse has a good character, is fast and strong. Napoleon purchased very many Holsteiners. The famous Saxon heavy cavalry and guard rode on Holsteiners.
I Squadron: 1st 'elite' company rode on blacks, 5th company on browns nad blacks
II Squadron: 2nd company rode on bays, 6th company on bays
III Squadron: 3rd company on chestnuts, 7th company on chestnuts
IV Squadron: 4th and 8th company on grays and whites
However already in 1805 only some colonels insisted on keeping up these peacetime practicies. The heavy cavalry rode on black horses. (Prussian king Frederick the Great insisted that the black horses should go to the cuirassiers. He considered the black of the coat as a sign of quality.)
Black - - - - -
Brown - - - - -
Liver
Dark Bay - - - - -
Light Bay - - - - -
Dun
Dark Chestnut - -
Chestnut - - - - -
Palomino
Roan - - - - - -
Gray - - - - - -
White
The French cavalry was commanded by Marshal Joachim Murat. His father was farmer-inkeeper,
his mother a pious woman set on making a priest
of him. Murat was tall, athletic with a handsome face framed by dark curls.
He was "woman-crazy; Napoleon complained that he needed them like he needed food."
(Elting - "Swords Around a Throne" p 144)
In combat Murat was supreme. Britten-Austin writes: "Riding out in front of a line of red and white pennons which stretches
from the Dwina's swamp on the right to the island of forest in the centre, he intends to harangue the Polish lancer division
- but finds himself in a most awkward, not to say comical position. The Poles need no
exhortion. With tremendous elan, like several thousand pig-stickers, they charge, driving the King
of Naples like a wild boar before them. And Murat, unable to see or command, has no option but to 'lead' them ...
Only thanks to his Herculean physique and the prowess of his gilded scimitar does he survive in the ensuing
scrum." (Britten-Austin - "1812 The March on Moscow" p 134)
Murat fled to Corsica after Napoleon's fall. During an attempt to regain Naples through an insurrection in
Calabria, he was arrested by the forces of his rival, Ferdinand IV of Naples.
Murat was told to move towards the place destined for his execution,
an officer gave him a handkerchief to blind himself, but he refused it.
Murat arrived at the destined spot, turning immediately his face to the soldiers, and placing his hand upon his breast, he
gave the word “Fire.” The soldiers fired 12 shots at his breast, which killed him instantaneously, and 3 in the head after he fell.
Murat was buried in a pit where they throw the most despicable felons.
- Napoleon: "He [Murat] loved, I may rather say, adored me. ... With me, he was my right arm. Order Murat to attack and destroy four or five thousand men in such
ir such a direction, it was done in a flash. But left to himself he was an imbecile,
without judgement."
- Officer of 16th Chasseurs: "personally very brave, but has few military talents.
He knows well how to use cavalry in front of the enemy, but is ignorant of the art of
preserving it."
- Von Roos: "Herculean in strength, excessively gallant, admirably cool in the midst of danger, his daring, his elegant costume
inspired an extraordinary veneration among the Cossacks."
- Victor Dupuy, France: "[The Cossacks had] almost magical respect for him.... I was riding ahead with three troopers when I saw
Murat at the far end of a little wood ... He was alone. In front of him ... some 40 mounted Cossacks
were gazing at him, leaning on their lances."
- David Chandler, UK: "Murat was one of the most colorful figures of his time. His military talents on
the battlefield, at the head of the cavalry, were considerable, but his rash initiatives robbed him
of any chance of earning repute as a strategist... he had many enemies among the marshalate but was greatly admired by the rank and file
for his dash and undoubted charisma.... He became the model for many another beau sabreur of the 19th century."
- John Elting, USA: " ... cheerful courage, a frank and unpretentious comradeship with colonel and private alike. That he had no military education bothered him not at all; he boasted that he made
his plans only in the presence of the enemy. (Napoleon complained that Murat tried to make war without maps.)
As a combat leader Murat was unequaled, storming ahead of his howling troopers, riding whip in hand, white plumes streaming high.
Tactics, except the simplest, he scorned: Put in your spurs and ride at, over, and through
anything that gets in your way !"
Horse Carabiniers [Carabiniers-à-Cheval]
During the Napoleonic Wars there were only two regiments of horse carabiniers, the 1st and 2nd. (They briefly became 'Horse Grenadiers'). In 1792 the French Ministry of War ordered that the carabiniers must always be chosen from seasoned and reliable soldiers. They were armed with long, straight sabers and pistols. In 1801 the strongest and tallest men and horses from the dissolved 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Régiment d'Cavalerie were assigned to the horse carabiniers. Despite the flow of soldiers into their ranks in 1803 the two regiments were only 2 squadrons each. Napoleon strengthened them with young and robust recruits and brought their strength to 3 and 4 squadrons. In Austerlitz (1805) the 1st and 2nd Carabiniers forught with the Russian dragoons and hussars with great result. In 1809 with the temporary absence of the Guard Cavalry, the 1st Carabiniers formed Napoleon's escort. The 1st and 2nd Carabiniers fought with Austrian cuirassiers at Alt-Eglofsheim.
Oficially the horse carabiniers wore white coats (jackets) but according to Rousellot (in 'Sabretache' 1987) only their officers wore white coats, the privates wore light blue ones. Faber du Faur also depicted the horse carabiniers in blue coats instead of white. According to some sources (for example Coppen) the carabiniers wore blue at Waterloo. Others claim that they also wore blue during the campaign in Russia (1812) and white only in the battle of Borodino. In 1812 at Borodino the carabiniers repeatedly clashed with the Russian cuirassiers, hussars and dragoons. They fought with gusto until the end of battle when they were defeated by Russian Chevaliers and Horse Guard and then were charged - by mistake - by French cuirassiers. During the winter retreat from Russia they suffered horrible losses.
In 1814 there was not much glory for the carabiniers neither, on one or two occasions they stampeded before the Cossacks and Russian cavalry.
In 1815 some of the carabiniers deserted to Wellington before the campaign began.
There were enough carabiniers (and other cavalrymen) deserters, that Wellington formed a
troop called "Bourbon Cavalry Corps."
At Waterloo, a sergeant of 2nd Carabiniers and a thorough monarchist, deserted to the British
just shortly before Napoleon's Guard attacked. He let the enemy know when and where the
Guard will attack. (As claimed by British Sergeant Cotton) Captain Duthulit also stated
that "this infamous criminal" was from the horse carabiniers, but he was an officer.
Another carabinier deserted to the Netherland troops under Chasse. Other sources claim that it a cuirassier.
Horses and Weapons
Colonels 1804-1815
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Cuirassiers [Cuirasiers]
While other types of cavalry had their important roles to play, it was the cuirassiers, the descendants of the medieval knights, who could turn a battle with their sheer weight and brute force. They looked dangerous everytime they ventured forward and the generals never employed them frivolously. Some British officers thought that the cuirassiers were "Bonaparte's Bodyguard." But for the Russians, Austrians and Prussians Napoleon's heavy cavalry was a familiar opponent. The cuirassiers also fought with the famous Hungarian hussars. Chlapowski writes: "... regiment of [French] cuirassiers which after one charge got into a melee with some Hungarian hussars. I was surprised to see when the Hungarians retreated that far more of their bodies were lying dead than French" (Chlapowski, - p. 63) The French cuirassiers were victorious in Austerlitz (1805), Jena (1806), Eylau (1807), Friedland (1807), Aspern-Essling (1809), Alt-Eglofsheim (1809) , Wagram (1809) , Borodino (1812) , Berezina, Dresden (1813) and Leipzig (1813). In the battle of Berezina in 1812, battalions of Russian 18th Infantry Division stood in the wood. (There were two small meadows, open patches, in the wood, in which the infantry was posted.) The Russians were formed in columns and did not expect cavalry attack because of the forest cover. General Doumerc struck the Russians with the 4th, 7th, and 14th Cuirassier Regiment (totalling 450 men). The cuirassiers passed through the brush and woods, reformed, and fallen on the enemy. They sabered 500-750 men and took 2,000 prisoners.
Elting: "Amazingly, at Waterloo the French had lost only 2 eagles, and those
early in the battle to English cavalry." By contrast, they had taken either 4 or
6 colors - the number naturally is much disputed - from Wellington's army."
In 1815 at Waterloo
Gen. Dornberg decided to attack a single cuirassier regiment with two of his own,
British 23rd Light Dragoons and 1st KGL Light Dragoons (Germans).
Dornberg's men outnumbered the French by 2 to 1. The two frontal squadrons of the French regiment
were attacked on both flanks and routed. Dornberg's entire cavalry dashed after the fleeing
enemy. But the French colonel, unlike his adversary, was holding two other squadrons in
reserve, and these counterattacked and smashed the enemy. The British and Germans were
remounting the slope in great disorder when another cuirassier regiment appeared and blocked
their way. The French drew their sabers and awaited the enemy unmoving.
"At the moment of
impact, the light dragoons realized that their curved sabers were no match for the cuirassiers
long swords, nor could they penetrate the French cuirasses. Seeing that his men were losing
heart, Dornberg tried to lead some of them against the enemy flank. (Barbero - "The Battle" p
192)
Although magnificent warriors the cuirassiers were not super humans, and sometimes
failures and defeats happened. In most of such cases the enemy heavily outnumbered the cuirassiers.
Or the cuirassiers had to deal with enemy's artillery, cavalry and infantry formed in squares -
all in the same time.
In 1809 at Aspern-Essling approx. 2,500 French heavy cavalry (4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th
Cuirassiers) led by Espagne attacked the Austrian center
defended by strong artillery and numerous light cavalry (uhlans, hussars and chevauxlegeres).
The French heavies received canister and then encountered four cavalry regiments deployed
in a very long line. The Austrians instead of countercharging remained stationary.
Their impressive stance communicated great resolve, and the French wavered.
Then, two Austrian cuirassier regiments crashed into French flank and sent
them reeling backward. Major Berret received two lance wounds
from Schwarzenberg Uhlans. General Durosnel was wounded and taken prisoner.
In Borodino the French cuirassiers
were unable to break Russian infantry formed in squares. Only the elite Saxon Garde du Corps
managed to break one, weak square. "... Colonel Hrapovitsky [of Russian Guard Infantry] ordered [infantry] columns to form squares against the French cavalry.
The cuirassiers made a vigorous attack but quickly paid a heavy price for their audacity.
All squares, acting with firmness, opened fire and delivered battalion volleys ...
The armour proved to be a weak defence against our fire and added no courage to them.
The cavalrymen quickly showed us their backs and fled in disorder."
(- Col. Alexander Kutuzov to Gen. Lavrov, report after Borodino)
In 1813, on the last day of the battle of Leipzig, group of desperate cuirassiers charged into the city packed with Allied infantry. Swedish officer Wossido writes: "... part of the open space was strewn with abandoned wagons and that the Prussian and Swedish riflemen were in disorder. As a result we could hardly move forward and soon had to halt. Suddenly there came a shout from the gate: Cavalry ! For a moment we were so squashed by the troops withdrawing that we could scarcely keep on our feet. French cuirassiers rushed out of the gate and attacked us. There must have been 40 or 50 of them. They were fired upon from all sides and these reckless horsemen, who made this desperate charge, were in an instant laid down besides their horses." Graf von Hochberg of Baden described the same moment: "A squadron of French cuirassiers and a detachment of Polish lancers ... managed - for a short time - to take the gate from the enemy."
Horses and Weapons
The body armor was expensive. In 1815 there was not enough time to make the armor and at Waterloo the entire 11th Régiment was without it. It was also very uncomfortable to wear in summer. In 1809 many young cuirassiers discarded their armor. The cuirassiers rode possibly on blacks, browns and dark bays.
General Nansouty.
"He was considered cautious ... or even reluctant to bring his squadrons to battle, but that was mainly on those occasions that Murat was in overall command, who Nansouty considered to be somewhat over zealous and headstrong ... Although he was considered a good, level headed, reliable and tactically sound commander he lacked the flare and initiative of a LaSalle or Montbrun." (Terry Senior, napoleon-series.org) In Jena (1806) Nansouty commanded 1st Cuirassier Division made of 1st and 2nd Carabiniers, 2nd and 9th Cuirassiers. In Eylau (1807) Nansouty's 1st Cuirassier Division had only 9th and 11th Cuirassiers. In Wagram (1809) Nansouty's 1st Cuirassier Division had 1st and 2nd Carabiniers, 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 12th Cuirassiers. In 1812 during the Invasion of Russia and in the battle of Borodino, Nansouty commanded the I Cavalry Corps (6 cuirassier, 1 chasseur, 2 hussar, and 2 lancer regiments. He also had one German and two Polish regiments).
General Hautpoul
In Jena (1806) Hautpoul commanded 2nd Cuirassier Division (1st, 5th and 10th Cuirassiers). In Eylau (1807) Hautpoul's 2nd Cuirassier Division was made of 1st, 5th and 10th Cuirassiers. The giant man led his cavalry against Russian infantry and artillery. Hautpoul was struck by a Russian cannonball, which dented his armor and shattered his hip. He was taken wrapped in his bloodstained cloak to the nearby village where he died the following day.
Colonels 1804-1815.
Uniform. Cuirassier's helmet was made of steel with brass comb, a black horse mane (for trumpeters red or white mane), a black cow-hide turban, black visor edged with brass, a tall red plume on the left side, and brass chin scales. The cuirass had front and back plates made of steel. It had leather straps with brass scales, the cuirass lining was edged with white in all regiments. The coat was dark blue with collar, facings, and cuffs in regimental color. The tall black boots were considered necessary to protect the legs when the files of cavalry were pressed together. During the Napoleonic Wars there were two types of the tall boots. Boots with soft legs were worn during a long march but for parade they were replaced with boots with stiff legs. The hard boots looked great but they were not comfortable.
For the Grand Parade Uniform (Tenue de Grande Parade) was
helmet with red plume, cuirass, coat, sabre, tall boots, and white culottes de peau.
For the Campaign Uniform (Tenue de Campaign) was helmet with red plume (pompon was also popular), cuirass, coat,
sabre, tall boots, and buff surculottes. For the Exercise Uniform (Tenue d’Ecurie) instead of the helmet and plume was worn a comfortbale
bonnet de police. No cuirass.
According to Decree isuued on April 7th 1807 : "From March 1st to December 1st the cuirassiers have to wear a mustache but must be clean shaven for the remaining 3 months." This regulation was until new one was issued on March 3rd 1809.
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Dragoons [Dragons]
During the Napoleonic Wars however all cavalrymen were trained in some infantry duties.
They were universal soldiers capable of fighting from horse and on foot.
The dragoons however were trained in infantry duties more than other cavalrymen
and for this reason their horsemanship "was wobbly" and their swordsmanship was not of the
highest order. They were teased especially by the hussars who considered themselves as the
master swordsmen and horsemen.
In 1804 Napoleon had 30 dragoon regiments.
In 1807 near Friedland the dragoons defeated Russian uhlans.
Below is a description of this combat by Kornet F. V. Bulgarin of [Russian] Duke Constantine
Uhlans. One squadron of uhlans under Shcheglov stood by 2 light guns that fired at
French foot skirmishers. This little cannonade went for a while before a column of enemy cavalry
went out of the wood. The front of this column was not too wide but its depth was unknown
to the uhlans. According to Bulgarin two squadrons of uhlans and one squadron of
Lifeguard Cossacks advanced against the enemy. They moved in column by platoons (each squadron had 4 platoons) with intervals on the
distance of platoon, passed through a village, formed by squadrons and then rushed forward
with loud battle cry. Shcheglov rode in the front with outstretched saber.
If not the best horsemen and swordsmen many dragoons were brave men.
British author Costello writes: "One of their videttes, after being posted facing English dragoon, of
the 14th or 16th [Light Dragoon Regiment] displayed an instance of individual gallantry, in which the French, to do them justice,
were seldom wanting.
One of the worst defeats the dragoons have ever suffered, occured in Eastern Prussia, at Burkersdorf.
On February 14th 1807, the 5th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 16th and 21st Dragons
(total of 18 squadrons) led by GdD Milhaud were at Burkersdorf,
a village between Eylau and Königsberg. These regiments formed the 3rd Dragoon
Division that was retreating after a reconnaisance in force.
(In 1815 at Waterloo, Milhaud led eight weak cuirassier regiments
against the British, German and Netherland infantry, artillery and cavalry).
Despite being defeated by the British cavalry in Spain, mercilessly harassed by the Cossacks in Eastern Prussia and Russia, and despite being teased all the time by the French hussars, the dragoons served well. And they were loyal to the Emperor. In 1814, shortly after Napoleon's first abdication, the Russian and Prussian armies were drawn up on both sides of the road leading to Paris. They presented arms to the French. General Bordesoulle met the 30th Dragoon Regiment and ordered them to draw sabers and render the honors. The colonel of the 30th Dragoons was in very bad mood. He replied: "If my dragoons draw sabers it will be to charge !"
Horses and Weapons. Napoleon had problems to find the right horses for his dragoons. In 1805 approximately 6.000 of them were without mounts and were organized into 4 foot dragoon regiments. Their duty was to guard the artillery reserves and the baggage trains. After the 1805-campaign Napoleon mounted the foot dragoons on captured Austrian horses. Then after the 1806-campaign Napoleon mounted the rest of the "walkers" on captured Prussian and Saxon horses. The hardships of war in Spain, plus poor horsecare killed thousands of dragoons' mounts. For example in May 1811 the 3rd Dragons had only 139 horses left out of 563 ! The situation was so desperate that in 1812 was issued an order that all officers in infantry regiments have to give their horses to the dragoons.
The dragoons were armed with straight sabers and muskets. Their muskets were longer and had
longer range of fire than light cavalry's carbines. While a light cavalryman's eqipment
included a carbine sling as a means of keeping his weapon readily available for use, the
greater length of musket issued to dragoons made a sling impractical. Thus the stock of
the musket was seated in a boot attached to the saddle, and irs barrel restrained by a strap
attached to the pommel.
In 1814 the dragoons gave away their long muskets for the infantry.
Sappers
In February 1808 Napoleon gave each dragoon regiment 8 sappers.
Emmanuel marquis Grouchy (1766-1847)
In 1806 and at Jena, Grouchy led 2nd Dragoon Division (10th, 11th, 13th and 22nd Dragoons). In 1809 at Wagram, he led Dragoon Division [Brigade ?] (7th, 30th Dragoons, and la Reine Dragoons) against the Austrians. When Blankenstein Hussars routed Jacquinot's cavalry Grouchy's dragoons, in turn, routed the hussars. Hohenzollern Cuirassiers and O'Reilly Chevauxlegeres came and then forced back the dragoons. But it was Grouchy who had the last reserve and he drove off the Austrian horse. In 1812 in Borodino, Emmanuel Grouchy commanded the III Cavalry Corps (4 dragoon, 3 chasseur, and 1 hussar regiment. He also had three German regiments).
Uniforms
The dragoons wore green coats, white breeches and tall black boots.
 French dragoons between 1809 and 1812, picture by Jouineau of France
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Lighthorse-Lancers [Chevau-Légers Lanciers]
St.Hilaire writes: "The Polish lancer, as well as the French lancer distinguished himself by his elegant appearance; but the looks of this last were softer and the colors of his origin moderated, in respect to the military roughness of the first figure. As brave as the Polish lancer, the French lancer had a lively mood; he was more sober especially in his way of living, while the intemperance of Polish had become proverbial in the army." The Poles were acknowledged to be the finest lancers in Europe and Russia, Prussia and Austria recruited their uhlan units from among the Polish subjects. It was followed by an imitative creation of lancer regiments all across Western Europe (France, Germany and even the British got around to it after Napoleonic wars).
The 7th and 8th Lancers were formed from Poles, by conversion of the 1st and 2nd Vistula Uhlans. They wore their traditional Polish style uniforms (no helmets). The 9th Regiment was considered also Polish but actually it was made of Germans and small number of Poles and Frenchmen. This regiment was formed by conversion of the 30th Chasseurs. "The 9th Regiment was raised in 1811 in Hamburg and initially had green uniforms with chamois facings. In 1813 the basic uniform colour turned to dark blue as for the 7e and 8r regiments, but with its own facings in chamois." (- Dr. E. M. Theewen)
Sergeant Anton of the 42nd Highland recorded the attack of the lancers: "Marshal Ney ... observed our wild unguarded zeal, and ordered a regiment of lancers to bear down upon us. We saw their approach at a distance, as they issued from a wood, and took them for Brunswickers coming to cut up the flying [French] infantry ... a German [KGL] orderly dragoon galloped up, exclaiming 'Franchee ! Franchee !' and, wheeling about, galloped off. We instantly formed a rallying square; no time for particularity: every man's musket was loaded, and our enemies approached at full charge; the feet of their horses seemed to tear up the ground. ... our brave Colonel [Sir Robert Macara] fell at this time, pierced through the chin until the point reached his brain. Captain Menzies fell covered with wounds. ... The grenadiers [of 42nd Highland], whom he commanded, pressed round to save or avenge him, but fell beneath the enemies lances." The official report of the Hanoverian brigade described the action that soon followed: "... Verden Battalion was not able to fall back quickly enough and was largely ridden down or taken prisoner."
In the memoirs of Waterloo, the French lancers, galloping at will over the battlefield,
sending saber-armed cavalry fleeing before them, and calmly stopping to finish off the
wounded without even having to dismount, appear as an image of horror. Wyndham of the Scots Grays saw the lancers pursuing British dragoons who had lost their mounts and were trying to save themselves on foot. He noted the ruthlessness of the lancers' pursuit and watched them cut their victims down. Some British cavalrymen on foot slipped in the mud and tried to ward off the lance blows with their hands but without much success.
Weapons.
Giving lances to poorly trained men didn't make them good lancers, they were 'men with sticks' not lancers. Lancer was a formidable opponent. Before World War I Mr. Wilkinson "have watched and recorded hundreds of competitions between men equally experts in the use of their weapons but lance won by the every large majority of them."
In 1813 the 125-men strong company of French lancers (regiment had 4-8 companies) was armed as follow:
Colonels 1811-1815.
 French lancers in 1813. Picture by Jouineau, France. |
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Horse Chasseurs [Chasseurs-à-Cheval]
The chasseurs-à-cheval thought being equal to hussars, the hussars however thought otherwise. Frequent quarrels arose between the two on the most triffling pretext.
Some of the chasseurs were reckless bravados - in 1809 an officer of 20th
Chasseurs dismounted so that he could go a little toward the enemy in order to relieve nature.
When he was standing with his legs apart and facing the Austrians, a cannonball hit
him killing on the spot.
Many chasseurs kept their hair braided like the hussars and were proud of their mustaches. Charles Parquin of 20th Chasseurs was not so lucky in this aspect, he wrote: "to my grief, my moustache had refused to grow despite constant encouragement with the razor." ;=)
In 1798 the Directorate had 22 regiments of chasseurs before Napoleon increased their numbers.
In 1804 there were 24 regiments, and in 1811 as many as 31 regiments. Only in 1815 were 15
regiments.
The chasseurs were also capable of charging in a pitched battle.
There were also few failures in this type of warfare. De Rocca writes: "Not far from the village of Mia Casas, the Spaniards had placed several squadrons of their best cavalry in ambush, this chosen cavalry fell unawares upon the chasseurs of our advanced guard, who were marching without order ... Our horsemen were overpowered by numbers ... and, in less than 10 minutes, our enemies completely destroyed upwards of 150 of the bravest of our 10th Regiment. ... We arrived too late; we saw nothing but the cloud of dust at a distance, which the retiring Spaniards left behind them. The colonel of the 10th was endeavouring to rally his chasseurs, and tearing his hair at the sight of the wounded strewed here and there over a pretty considerable space of ground."
The chasseurs had problems especially with the Cossacks
in 1812. "Each morning it's the light cavalry, joined by Murat in person,
that opens the march, the hussar and chasseur regiments ... Day after day the Russian rearguard carries out the same
maneuvre. By pretending to make a stand, it lures Murat into mounting a full scale attack - and then melts away into forests.
Towards midday the heat becomes intolerable; and the chasseurs and hussars 'seeing the Russians dismount, unbridle
their horses and give them something to eat. Yet General St. Germaine kept us standing in battle array, bridle on arm,
at our horses' heads. (Britten-Austin - "1812 The March on Moscow" p 124)
Uniforms and Weapons.
The chasseurs wore shakos, green coats, green breeches and short boots.
The elite companies wore colpacks instead of shakos. In 1812 was ordered to replace the
colpacks with shakos with red bands and shevrons.
General Montbrun.
Elting writes: "Montbrun was a worthy comrade. Very tall, scarred, and soldierly, with an eye that compelled obedience, active and tireless, he had risen from private to colonel of the 1st Chasseurs-a-Cheval. Davout got him promoted to general of brigade. He was at once prudent and reckless, careful of the lives of his men yet a driving, aggressive leader. In August 1812 he was suffering an attack of gout when the Russians attempted a counteroffnsive; unable to pull on his boots, he rode to the rescue in his stocking feet. A month later at Borodino a chance cannon shot killed him." In 1809 at Raab "Montbrun led 1st Chasseurs-a-Cheval in a spirited charge that routed the few remaining Austrian cavalry defending the Austrian left flank." (Arnold - "Napoleon Conquers Austria") At Wagram, Montbrun commanded Cavalry Division (1st, 2nd, 11th and 12th Chasseurs, 5th and 7th Hussars). In 1812 during the Invasion of Russia and in the battle of Borodino, he led the II Cavalry Corps (4 chasseur, 4 cuirassier, 2 carabinier and 1 lancer regiment. He also had two German and one Polish regiments).
Colonels 1804-1815
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Hussars
In 1798 the Directorate had twelve hussar regiments.
Hussars' overbearing arrogance, their military pride, the fastidiously sensitive brutality of their honor, had an intensity hard to realize today. The hussars considered themselves as better horsemen and swordsmen than everybody else. They liked to sing songs that insulted dragoons and considered themselves distinctly more dashing than chasseurs. In combat the hussars rode yelling most unearthly, cursing and brandishing their weapons. They had their own code - that of reckless curage that bordered on a death wish. The hussars were the eyes, ears and … egos of the army. With their look suitably piratical their hair plaited and queued they were one heck of mean buggers. Some regiments were composed of fellows who had a natural longing for a fight. The mutually supporting camaraderie of the hussars was important factor of their esprit de corps. Tactically they were used as scouts and screen for other troops and due to their combativeness were also used in pitched battles. It was not a rare sight to see a hussar in a forefront of a hack-and-slash melee, gripping his reins with his teeth, a pistol in one hand and saber in the other.
In 1805 at Austerlitz the 2nd Hussars captured Allies flag. The 2nd Hussars was a famous unit. Raised in 1734 by Count Esterhazy, this regiment took the name Chamborant from its colonel. "The color of its uniform, a most distinctive chestnut-brown with sky-blue facings and breeches, was reputedly suggested by Marie Antoinnette who remarked upon the color of the habit of a passing monk when Chamborant asked what color she would suggest for the uniform of his regiment." (Philip Haythornthwaite) The 1st Hussars was not worse than the 2nd Hussars. In 1806 before the battle of Jena the Guard cavalry had not yet arrived in time and the 1st had acted as the Emperor's body guard. In 1809, with an escort of hussars - Napoleon had given the 7th Hussars this honor - Empress Marie-Louise traveled to France to meet her husband. Everything about the journey was heavy with ceremony and when they arrived in Paris the artillery (and Paris journals :-) made a terrific noise.
Although adventure and war were the breath of their nostrils
they were also boasters, as no troops are invincible. The hussars had their own share of defeats.
In 1807 at Golymin General Lasalle led "Hellish Brigade" against Russian artillery
(battery of 12-15 guns). The hussars charged with vigor but
then were abruptly seized with panic. The two regiments turned about and, in an indescribable
disorder officers and men mixed, stampeded back to the rear. "Of the whole brigade only the
elite company of the 7e Hussars, placed immediately behind the generals, remained firmly at
their posts." (Dupont - "La panique de Golymin" Cavaliers d'épopée.)
One of the most known cowards was squadron leader of the 5th Hussars "whose colonel had even undertaken in General Montbrun's presence to issue him with a certificate of officerly cowardice any day he asked for it. Several times he'd let his men charge without accompanying them. At Inkovo [Russia] he'd even slid from his horse and surrendered !" (Britten-Austin - "1812 The March on Moscow" p 381)
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Antoine Charles Louis, comte de Lasalle (1775 – 1809)
Lasalle wore striking uniform, admired by all hussars. It was an ultimate showoff. His horse was one of the best in the French Empire. Only Murat was more popular among the French cavalry. In 1806-7 Lasalle commanded the Hellish Brigade (5th and 7th Hussars). In 1807 he led II Cavalry Corps (the I Cavalry Corps was under Murat). In 1809 and at Wagram Lasalle commanded Cavalry Division (8th Hussars, 13th, 16th and 24th Chasseurs).
Colonels 1804-1815
Uniforms and Weapons The hussar was armed with pistols and curved saber. Only some had carbines, and most had pistols. The hussars were the most flamboyantly dressed soldiers of every army. Their brilliant uniforms exemplified the panache with which they lived and fought.
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Best Cavalry Regiments.
The light cavalry enjoyed reputation for bravery and an uninhibited joie-de-vivre
when not. There were many excellent regiments of light cavalry, including the 1st
Husards, 2nd Husards, 5th Chasseurs-a-Cheval or any of the lancer regiments.
6e Regiment de Chevaulegers-Lanciers
1er Regiment de Vistule Lanciers (In 1811 the "Vistula Uhlans" were
renamed to 7e Lanciers)
8e Regiment de Chevaulegers-Lanciers
2e Regiment de Hussards
4e Regiment de Hussards
5e Regiment de Hussards
7e Regiment de Hussards
5e Regiment de Chasseurs-à-Cheval
22e Regiment de Chasseurs-à-Cheval
20e Regiment de Dragons
1er Regiment de Cuirassiers
1er Regiment de Carabiniers-à-Cheval
2e Regiment de Carabiniers-à-Cheval
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Sources and Links.
Recommended Reading.
Plates - du projet de règlement sur l'habillement du major Bardin. Paris,
Musée de l'Armée, Dist. RMN P. Segrette
Colonel John Elting - "Swords Around a Throne"
Bukhari - "Napoleon's Cavalry"
Rousselot - "Napoleon's Elite Cavalry"
Maughan - "Napoleon's Cavalry Recreated in Color Photographs"
Johnson - "Napoleon's Cavalry and Its Leaders"
Costello - "The Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns"
Chandler - "Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars"
Charmy - "Splendeur des Uniformes de Napoleon: Cavalry"
Lacahouque - "Waterloo."
Napier - "History of the War in the Peninsula 1807-1814"
Chlapowski - "Memoirs of a Polish Lancer" (translated by Tim Simmons)
Picture of French foot dragoons by Keith Rocco, USA.
La Cavalerie Française
Histoire de la cavalerie française
Valeur et Discipline French Napoleonic Cavalry.
History of Cavalry.
Joachim Murat "The First Saber of Europe" - commander of Napoleon's cavalry
Antoine-Charles-Louis de Lasalle - commander of "Brigade Infernale"
The fighting 7th Hussar Regiment
French cavalry 1812 - Uniforms.
French Cavalry
Saber or sabre.
Lance.
Cavalry Tactics and
Combat - Part 1
Types of Cavalry, Weapons, Armor, Organization, Tactical Formations
Cut and Slash vs Thrust, Charge, Melee, Pursuit, Casualties in cavalry combat
The Best Cavalry
The carabiniers were raised in 1691 by Louis XIV (The Sun King), with the men drafted
from the better troopers of other line regiments. Rene Chartrand writes: "Commissions in the
carabiniers could not be purchased, but were granted by the king to deserving
and talented officers of modest means. ... In principle, carabiniers were to fight on foot
when required, which they occasionally did, notably when they dismounted, stormed and captured
the gates of Prague in 1741 .
In 1809 the carabiniers suffered badly in the hands of
Austrian uhlans and Napoleon ordered to give them armor.
Chlapowski, among others, described this combat: "The cuirassier division arrived, with the brigade of carabiniers at its
head. ... Soon an uhlan regiment in six squadrons trotted up to within 200 paces of the
carabiniers and launched a charge at full tilt.
It reached their line but could not break it, as the second regiment of carabiniers was
right behind the first, and behind it the rest of the cuirassier division. I saw a great many
carabiniers with lance wounds, but a dozen or so uhlans had also fallen."
(Chlapowski - "Memoirs of a Polish Lancer" p 60)
The campaign in Russia, and especially the reareat during winter, broke the backbone of the carabiniers
and they never were the same. In 1813 in the Battle of Leipzig they panicked before Hungarian hussars.
Rilliet from the 1st Cuirassiers witnessed the encounter.
The 1st Carabiniers were in front and general Sebastiani was to the right of the regiment: all at once a mass of enemy
cavalry, mainly Hungarian hussars, rode furiously down on the carabiniers. 'Bravo!' cried the general, laughing and waving
the riding crop which was the only weapon that he designed to use.
Napoleon formed cuirassiers as follow: the first twelve régiments d'Cavalerie received
the strongest and tallest men and horses. Napoleon gave them armor and they were considered
as elite troops. They were numbered 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Cuirassiers.
In 1812 at Borodino, the French and Saxon cuirassiers captured the Great Redoubt defended
by Russian infantry and artillery (see picture).
Chlapowski of Old Guard Lancers writes:
"The redoubt had been so ruined by cannon fire that the Emperor rightly jidged cavalry
capable of taking it. So we watched the beautiful sight of our cuirassier charge."
General Caulaincourt, with his eyes aflame with the ardor of battle, rode to the front of the cuirassiers and shouted:
"Follow me, weep not for him [Montbrun], but come and avenge his death."
In reply to Murat's order to enter that redoubt right through the Russian line, he said,
"You shall soon see me there, dead or alive." The trumpets sounded the charge, and putting himself at the head
of this iron-clad cavalry, he dashed forward. The cavalrymen pressed on with sabers drawn.
Wathier's 2nd Cuirassier Division arrived at the redoubt first, and as they were about
to enter its rear they were greeted by a heavy volley from the infantry inside.
General Caulaincourt was killed. The Raievski Redoubt was captured by cavalry, a feat
never repeated !
Heinrich von Brandt writes: "I saw General Auguste de Caulaincourt, mortally wounded, being carried
away in a white cuirassier cloak, stained deep red by his blood. There, in the redoubt, the bodies of infantrymen were
scattered amongst French, Saxon, Westphalian and Polish cuirassiers uniformed in blue and in white. ...
This was a crucial moment in the battle and the firing abated a little as if both sides wondered what to do next."
In 1815 at Quatre Bras, French cuirassiers, Private Henry and NCO Gauthire captured King's Color of the II Btn. of 69th Foot [GdD Kellermann wrote
in his report (now in S.H.A.T. C15 5) to Ney after the charge: "We took the Color of the 69th which was captured by the cuirassiers
Valgayer and Mourassin" (added with pencil by another hand: "Albisson and Henry ?").]
American historian John Elting writes: "The 69th at once ordered its regimental tailors to make up a new flag, and denied any loss.
Unfortunately, Napoleon had already announced the capture."
(Elting - "Swords Around a Throne" p 352)
Names of the French cavalrymen who captured Allies Colors:
In the Battle of Ligny in 1815, the commander of the Prussian army almost died under the hooves of the cuirassiers horses.
General Blücher's horse (it had been a present from the Prince Regent of England) was hit and fell to the ground trapping the commander underneath it.
His adjutant's horse was hit too.
On photo: French cuirassier sabre from Military Heritage 
The most known cuirassier commanders were Generals Nansouty and d'Hautpoul.
Etienne-Marie-Antoine Champion de Nansouty (1768-1815) came from aristocracy, went with the Revolution but did not put himself forward.
Nansouty was a man of tradition, education and exactitude. "His men were always carefully
trained and cared for. Yet there was no elan in his character, no readiness
for an unexpected, all-out blow to save a desperate day. His disposition was mordant ... "
( John Elting, - p 162)
Jean-Joseph-Ange D'Hautpoul (1754-1807) was a giant of a man, with enormous body strength.
He was a self-confident and very proud individual.
In contrast to Nansouty, d'Hautpoul was a fiery commander eager to charge at any time.
In 1794 at Aldenhoven Hautpoul crushed enemy cavalry twice as numerous and was promoted to
the rank of general. 
The French cuirassiers of the Napoleonic wars wore dark blue coat, a flaming grenade
on coat-tails and saddlecloth, red epaulettes and plume attached to their headwear.
Inspections conducted in cuirassier regiments showed lack of epaulettes on big scale.
During the decades before Napoleonic Wars only the dragoons were trained in infantry and
cavalry duties. General Jomini wrote: "Opinions will be always divided as to those amphibious
animals called dragoons. It is certainly an advantage to have several battalions of mounted
infantry, who can anticipate an enemy at a defile, or scour a wood; but to make cavalry out
of foot soldiers is very difficult. ... It has been said that the greatest inconvenience
resulting from the use of dragoons consists in the fact of being obliged at one moment to
make them believe infantry squares cannot resist their charges, and the next moment that a
foot soldier is superior to any horseman... But it cannot be denied, however, that great
advantages might result to the general who could rapidly move up 10,000 infantrymen on
horseback to a decisive point ..."
In 1799-1800 France had 20 dragoon regiments.
Napoleon could mount only part of his dragoons. That fact, combined with Napoleon's modern ideas
of combining fire power and mobility, led him to the conclusion that units of foot dragoons
should be formed.
For his planned cross-Channel invasion of England, he organized two divisions of dismounted dragoons.
They were put into infantry-style shoes, gaiters and packs. They also received drums to supplement
their trumpets.
In the first phase of Napoleonic Wars they served on the primary theater of war,
in Central Europe, before being sent to Spain and Italy.
The dragoons distinguished themselves in several battles.
The column of French dragoons halted and stood motionless like a stonewall
[kak kamennaia stiena] waiting for the enemy. The dragoons from the second rank
grabbed their muskets and began firing while these in the first rank drew sabers and waited.
The charging uhlans first slowed down and then halted. The French sounded
massive “En avant ! Vive l’Empereur!” and advanced forward en masse.
The uhlans and Cossacks gave way before the sheer weight of the column.
Their retreat was covered by flankers who opened fire on the pursuing dragoons.
The column made a half turn to the right and tried to cut off the way of retreat for the
uhlans and Cossacks.
After 1807 majority of the dragoons served on secondary theaters of wars, Spain and Italy.
Many of the regiments in Spain lacked uniforms, horses and equipment. For example in Spain they were dressed in the brown
cloth of the Capucines found in convents and churches. They also had difficulty in obtaining
eppaulettes for their elite companies and chin straps. For lack of sufficient number of
regulation sabers the old Toledo-swords with three edges were used.
But the dragoons were efficient troops. They fought a grim and deadly war of ambush and
retaliation against the hostile Spaniards. They guarded communication lines and escorted convoys.
One of the dragoons' greatest successes in Spain came in 1812.
The second in command of the British army, Lord Paget, as Henry William Paget was then styled, was captured by the
French dragoons.
In 1815 during the Waterloo Campaign there were only 15 dragoon regiments
and these fought to the very end of the war.
On 1 July (approx. half month after Waterloo) several dragoons regiments marched toward
Villacoublay. This force was screened by a small vangaurd. The vanguard met two Prussian squadrons
and was thrown back in the first clash. Behind it, however, the 5th and the 13th Dragoons deployed out of
the wood. Two Prussian regiments arrived, the (3rd) Brandenburg Hussars and (5th) Pomeranian Hussars
The dragoons were driven back and fled to the village.
After rallying the survivors Major von Wins went to report the defeat to Blucher, who was
colonel-in-chief of the (5th) Hussars. Nostitz described the scene: "... Major von Wins unexpectedly rode up and stopped.
The major dismounted ... came up to me, saying in a very excited voice, 'What you see here is all that is left
of the two hussar regiments. Everyone else is either dead or taken prisoner.' I was very surprised.
... Major von Wins ... demanded to be taken to the Prince (Blucher). I tried to stop him, telling him
his reception would be highly unpleasant. However, that did not help and I had to announce him.
The Prince heard the report in growing anger and then cried out in rage, 'Lord ! If what you are saying is true, then I wish the devil
had fetched you too !"
One of the most known dragoons was Emmanuel Grouchy.
John Elting writes: " [he] was of the ancient chivalry of France,
his family acknowledged aristocracy from at least the 14th Century. ... From the first it
was clear that he was 'a horseman by nature and cavalry soldier by instinct.'
Better, he knew how to handle forces of all arms and took good care of his men.
When he was suspeneded in 1793 because he was an aristocrat, his troopers came close to
mutiny. ... Grouchy's correspondence shows a thin-skinned man, reluctant to assume
responsibility yet conscientious in discharging it. Actually he was abler than he realized.
He failed to show the necessary initiative during Waterloo but, left isolated after that
battle, managed a masterful retreat.
As a cavalryman, he was far superior to Murat in tactical skill, administrative ability,
and common sense. Clean-handed and very courageous ..."
Picture: officer of 1st Lancer Regiment in parade uniform
Before the Russian campaign Napoleon wanted to oppose the 
Only few lancers served in 1812 in Russia. There was however much more to do for them in 1813 in Saxony
and in 1814 in France. The French lancers fought with success at 
In 1815 at Genappe, Colonel Surd of 2e Lanciers, was badly wounded by the 
Mastery with lance required training and strong hand. "It took a lot of extra training to produce a competent lancer.
A British training manual produced some years after Waterloo stated that he had to master 55
different exercises with his lance - 22 against cavalry, 18 against infantry, with 15 general ones thrown in for good measure."
(Adkin - "The Waterloo Companion" p 247)
The dragoons and the chasseurs were the most numerous French cavalry.
The horse chasseurs [chasseurs-a-cheval] were light cavalry and were often brigaded with the
hussars. The most famous was the Infernal Brigade (9th Hussars, 7th and 20th Chasseurs) commanded by General
Colbert. Two other brigades worth mention are Col. Soult's Brigade (8th Hussars, 16th and Chasseurs) and Gen. Pajol's Brigade (5th and 7th Hussars,
3rd Chasseurs).
There were several reasons why the Emperor formed so many regiments of chasseurs.
Their uniforms were cheaper than hussars' outfits and their horses were cheaper than
cuirassiers' mounts. The chasseurs were also capable of dismounted action, like the dragoons.
The chasseurs however were best suited to reconnaissance duties and small warfare.
On 8th February 1814 a half squadron of 31st Chasseur captured 150 Austrian infantry near
Massimbona.
Another squadron captured 300 infantry between Marengo and Roverbella.
Even the scouts of the regiment did something to be proud of, they captured an Austrian
baggage column, which was moving into Villafranca with its escort. (Nafziger and Gioannini -
"The Defense of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Northern Italy, 1813-1814" pp 160-162)
Picture: French light cavalry sabre and scabbard (1802).
Photo from Military Heritage 
Picture: French cavalry carbine from Military Heritage 
LEFT: during campaign and in battle the Guard chasseurs wore dark green trousers,
strengthened with black leather on the inside and around the bottoms.
The trousers were closed on the outside by 18 buttons sewn on scarlet bands.
In 1812 after the campaign in Russia the grey overalls became more popular than ever.
Many were made of so-called 'Marengo-grey' cloth with black leather reinforcements and 2
crimson stripes along each outside seam. The grey overalls were cheaper and
more practical as the chasseurs were light cavalry and participated in numerous marches and
counter-marches, scoutings, often in bad weather. In my opinion it was the most practical
legwear for light cavalry. It was used in 1813 and 1814 (
One of the most known chasseurs was Montbrun. Louis-Pierre Montbrun (1770-1812) joined the
cavalry in 1789 in the age of 19. According to Terry J. Senior of napoleon-series.org
"This soldier was a superb equestrian, with a brilliant sword arm, and a terrific combat
record. He possessed an exceptional talent for controlling large formations of mixed cavalry.
Rated ahead of LaSalle on the basis that he was less headstrong and more calculating than the
legendary hussar commander."
The hussar-mania contaminated France after sweeping over Europe.
The dash of attire and behaviour of Hungarian hussars displayed on the battlefields in the service of Austria
certainly made the best impression, and in due time the French army started changing her cavalry regiments
into hussars, in dress and in title. Lynn writes: "The last type of horsemen to join the ranks of the French cavalry were hussars,
a form of mounted unit composed of Hungarian light cavalry who forged their methods
of combat fighting against the Turks. Hussars were true light cavalry, used best
for raiding and scouting. ...
The first genuine French hussar regiment was raised in 1692 from Imperial deserters, and by 1710, the French
counted 3 regiments of these often outlandish cavalry, regarded by some more as thieves on horseback than as true
cavalrymen." (Lynn - "Giant of the Grand Siecle" p 492)
Photo: Hussar of Lasalle's "Hellish Brigade."
Reenactor group 
Guindey was quartermaster of the blue-clad 10th Hussars. He became fomous for killing Prussian Prince Louis Ferdinand at Saalfeld.
As a prominent leader of the Prussian court war-party, his death was grievously felt.
King of Prussia told his generals afterward: "You said that the French cavalry was worthless, look what their light
cavalry has done to us! Imagine what their cuirassiers will do!"
Guindey was awarded and transfered to the Horse Gerenadiers of the Imperial Guard.
The 5th and 7th Hussars formed Lasalle's legendary Hellish Brigade
with Colonels Francois-Xavier Schwarz and Ferdinand-Daniel Marx as regimental commanders.
In 1806 After the victorious battles of Jena and Auerstädt, Lasalle participated in the pursuit of the Prussians.
His two regiments, total of 600-900 men, bluffed the great Prussian fortress of
Stettin with 180 guns and a garrison of 5,000 men.
into surrender ! 
Picture: two French hussars and a girl. Picture by S.Letin.
The most famous hussar commander was General Antoine-Charles Lasalle,
"the man for high adventure and reckless deeds. 
Picture: Hussar. "Napoleon's Cavalry
Recreated in Color Photographs" by Maughan